Justices/Judges

The Indianapolis Bar Association’s Judicial Excellence Political Action Committee released the results of its 2012 judicial
candidate evaluation. The Democratic and Republican Party ballots will feature twelve candidates vying for 10 spots on Marion
Superior Court. The candidates received varied approval rates, from just 18 percent to nearly 97 percent.

The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of a full-time magistrate judge for the Northern
District of Indiana in Hammond. Applications are being accepted for the position.

Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard has approved a 2.2 percent pay increase for judges and prosecutors
that will take effect July 1, following the governor’s similar action for executive employees at the start of the year.

The Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled that a Monroe Circuit judge abused her discretion in denying a motion to recuse in
a small claims case that involved an attorney who previously served as the judge’s election campaign committee chair.

Indiana University Maurer School of Law will host 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge David Hamilton for a discussion on federal
sentencing on Jan. 31. IU Maurer professor Ryan Scott will join Hamilton in discussing the comparative severity of federal
prison sentences.

Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard gave his final State of the Judiciary on Wednesday, recapping not only the past 12
months, but also highlighting court initiatives and changes that have occurred during the quarter century he spent as chief
justice.

Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard on Wednesday will give his annual State of the Judiciary address to a joint session
of the Indiana General Assembly, the final time he will do so before retiring in March.

Hammond City Court Judge Jeffrey A. Harkin will begin serving his 60-day unpaid suspension on Dec. 27 as a result of an agreement
he reached with the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications and approved by the state’s highest court.

A federal appellate court heard arguments Friday in a case that could ultimately decide if Congress has the authority to withhold
judicial pay increases as it’s done in the past or whether cost-of-living adjustments are required.